Quantum transport of cold atoms

Wenesday, 5th October 2011. 12:00-13:00

Fernando Sols

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

ABSTRACT:

Cold atom devices permit the exploration of novel forms of quantum transport that are difficult or impossible to realize in traditional electron transport setups. Under the action of an external driving, long-term coherent atom motion can be quite sensitive to the initial switching conditions even in the presence of interactions [1]. If the driving violates space- and time-inversion symmetry simultaneously, then coherent motion of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a given direction can be induced [2], as has been recently observed [3]. For weak driving, this coherent quantum ratchet stems from the interference between first- and second-order processes, as revealed by precise analytical work [4]. A different scenario is that of a leaking condensate passing through an interface which separates regions of subsonic and supersonic flow. On the supersonic (normal) side of the event horizon, we find the bosonic analog of Andreev reflection in superconductors [5]. On the other hand, the analog of Hawking radiation is emitted into the subsonic side, even at zero temperature. We study a double barrier structure which is predicted to emit resonant, highly non-thermal Hawking radiation [6].

[1] C. E. Creffield, F. Sols, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 250402 (2008); Phys. Rev. A 84, 023630 (2011).
[2] C. E. Creffield, F. Sols, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 200601 (2009).
[3] T. Salger, S. Kling, T. Hecking, C. Geckeler, L. Morales-Molina, M. Weitz, Science 326, 1241 (2009).
[4] M. Heimsoth, C. E. Creffield, F. Sols, Phys. Rev. A 82, 023607 (2010).
[5] I. Zapata, F. Sols, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 180405 (2009).
[6] I. Zapata, M. Albert, R. Parentani, F. Sols, New J. Phys. 13, 063048 (2011).